Welcome to the BlueSheepdog Rifle Optics Guide for 1-4x24mm scopes. We are full-time and retired police officers, who are also lifetime shooters and firearm enthusiasts. Our law enforcement experiences are quite varied, but we are all passionate about firearms, shooting, and the best accessories to make us more accurate on and off duty. In addition, we like to hit the woods and hunt as well.

One of the great benefits of a true 1x scope with magnification is the ability for reflex shooting. This is shooting with both eyes open, where the rifle is quick snapped into place, and the shooter uses the 1x setting to maximize the optic for fast shooting. This is the same concept and benefit of a red dot optic – quick point, dot on target, shoot. Only these scopes also give the shooter the benefit of dialing in accuracy at medium ranges. For that reason, we really appreciate these scopes for home defense, patrol rifles or SWAT teams. They do well for hunting and competitions as well!

Look for at lot more comparison guides this year. Everything from reflex red dot optics, to long range variable magnification scopes, to holsters for popular off-duty or back-up pistols, and the best tactical lights on the market today.

Why Select a 1-4x24mm Scope?

For many years the only scope selections seemed to be fixed magnification or variable magnification starting at around 2x, or more commonly 3x power. When the Assault Weapons Ban (AWB) expired in 2004 the firearms market literally exploded with new firearms, optics, and accessories. One of the biggest gains in firearms manufacturing and sales has been with the AR-15 rifle (sometimes referred to as a Modern Sporting Rifle – MSR).

The author’s S&W M&P15 rifle dedicated to varmint hunting.

The rise of MSR’s has increased shooting, hunting, and patrol rifle options as well. The AR-15 is a fantastic varmint hunting rifle, becoming highly popular for hunting coyotes, hogs, prairie dogs, and other small to medium game. My go-to coyote rifle is a S&W M&P15 5.56mm, with a 1:8 twist rate, and Bushnell AR-Optics 3-9x40mm. This set up is great for open area farms, and can be adaptable to hogs or smaller game I hunt, but a 1-4×24 scope would be great for the mixed woods hunting spots.

A 1-4×24 scope can be great for hunting in wooded or hilly country (photo by Vista Outdoors).

The rise in competitive shooting continues to exceed previous years, as the shooting sports become one of America’s past times again. What the IDPA and USPSA have done for pistol shooting, 3-Gun competitions have done for the AR-15. In fact, 3-Gun competitions are one of the fastest growing firearms competitions in the country right now. In 3-Gun competitions shooters compete with pistols, shotguns and AR-15 rifles.

A 3-gun competitor from Team Noveske shoots with a 1-4×24 scope (photo from YouTube).

Many 3-Gun courses now expand rifle shots to various distances out to beyond 100 yards. This is where a 1-4×24 scope will truly excel over red dots or iron sights. A quick dial of the magnification ring and the shooter can be ready for long distance or close up shots.

Another great use for an AR-15 is teaching new rifle shooters the fundamentals of shooting. Some may start with a .22 LR rifle, and that is fine, but the AR-15 provides a great starter center-fire rifle. The AR-15 is most often chambered in 5.56mm or .223 caliber, and this cartridge has a relatively low recoil while being very accurate.

By slowly moving a newer or younger shooter into center-fire rifles, the fear and pain of heavy recoil can be mitigated so the shooter becomes more comfortable shooting. As skills improve, the shooter can move up to heavier calibers. A 1-4×24 scope is a great way to ensure proper fundamentals have been learned, without giving too much advantage of a magnified scope.

Finally, we have seen a large push for magnified reflex scopes in the military, law enforcement, and even personal defense. The ability to go from reflex shooting to more accurate pinpoint aiming is extremely valuable in these use areas. Red dot or reflexive optics have been the darling in these areas for some time. Their simplistic aiming point, two-eye open shooting ability, and fast target acquisition truly assists shooters for close and fast shots.

The 1-4×24 scopes have become very popular for military and law enforcement rifles.

A simple red dot may be easy for close quarters shooting, but depending on dot size human targets can start to be completely covered in as little as 100 yards! That doesn’t give a great deal of aiming flexibility, nor precision shot placement for even medium range targets. This is where the 1-4×24 scopes really shine. With very affordable pricing, and outstanding features, 1-4×24 scopes can really enhance shooter performance.

Review Guide Parameters

To ensure consistency for this review, each optic selected for review here has a true 1x low power setting (unless noted) for reflexive close quarters shooting, and a maximum 4x magnification for short to low mid-range targets. Due to numerous offerings in this category, we’ve tried to stay in the low to mid-range ($100 – $500 MSRP) for this review since this range appeals to the needs of a much greater audience.

To provide our readers an easy reference method for the selected comparison scopes, the listings will be in descending alphabetical order by manufacturer name. Each optic will have relevant features and specifications listed, as well as commentary on our personal experiences with the optics or our feelings about included or missing features. We’ve also included a quick reference Table of Contents to make your search even easier.

Best Quality 1-4×24 Scopes

Depending on your needs, any of the scopes on this page may serve you well. However, there are still a few optics that rise to the top. When looking at performance for the price, the following are the best low power scopes that can receive our recommendation.

Burris MTAC 1-4×24

Burris has been making high quality rifle scopes for many years. Based in Greely, Colorado the Burris designers are surrounded by some of the most beautiful and challenging scenery in America. The MTAC™ 1-4×24 scope is a very nice optic designed with some advanced features to meet the needs for a variety of shooting situations.

Though specifically targeted to 3-gun shooters and hunters, the MTAC 1-4×24 has obvious military and law enforcement applications. The MTAC has a one-piece 30mm aluminum tube providing greater light transmission than 1-inch tubes. Burris uses double internal spring-tension systems, along with precision-gauged, hand-fitted assemblies to maintain zero and point of impact through shock and recoil. The MTAC tube is Nitrogen filled to prevent fogging in cold or rainy weather.

The Ballistic CQ reticle has a fairly large circle with a cross-hair in the middle. The reticle will be black or red depending on illumination. The cross-hair has 100-yard interval Mil-Dot bullet drop aiming points out to 600 yards. The Ballistic AR reticle uses a much smaller broken circle targeting system, with Mil-Dot hash marks on the horizontal and vertical axis. The vertical hash marks are designed to be 100-yard interval bullet drop aiming points out to 600 yards. Each reticle is good for reflex shooting, but my personal preference would be the Ballistic AR for a much cleaner picture, and holds for moving targets or wind adjustments.

The Ballistic AR center circle and dot are great for reflex shots, while a hash-mark cross works at distance.

Burris gives the MTAC 1-4×24 scope an ergonomic power ring for making small and large magnification adjustments. The turrets are capped, which is O.K. for a low magnification scope. When exposed, the turrets have finger-adjustable 0.5 MOA adjustments per click, which is fairly standard for these scopes. Being able to make adjustments without a tool is very important!

Burris offers their “Burris Forever Warranty” with every scope they sell. This is a no questions asked, transferable for life, repair or replacement warranty. You may pay a little more for the MTAC 1-4×24 scope, but your getting high quality features and an outstanding warranty. The MTAC 1-4×24 scope can be found on internet shopping sites for around $325.00.

The Burris MTAC 1-4×24 scope is a serious option for multiple rifle uses. The highly functional bullet drop compensating illuminated reticles, and finger adjusted turret controls are outstanding features. Illuminated reticles can be a game changer in low-light conditions. The use of high-grade optics glass with Hi-Lume multi-coated lenses is extremely valuable. We have not used this scope in person, but from what we’ve seen it appears to be more than capable for on-duty use. The Burris scopes we observed at SHOT Show appeared to be very well made.

One of the somewhat surprising features that is absent from the MTAC 1-4×24 scope is a parallax focus or adjustment. This adjustment can really benefit clarity of target as the shooter moves from close-up to distant shots. This should be a contender scope for any use.

Leatherwood Hi-Lux CMR 1-4×24

Leatherwood Hi-Lux rifle scopes are designed to excel in the harshest shooting conditions. The CMR (Close Medium Range) scopes are particularly designed to enhance the performance of the AR-platform rifles. Made with a one-piece aluminum tube, the exterior of the Hi-Lux CMR 1-4×24 scope is protected from rust and wear with an outstanding PermaCoat coating. Each scope is also Nitrogen-purged to ensure outstanding fogproof capabilities.

Each Hi-Lux scope comes with fully multi-coated lenses. Hi-Lux uses their proprietary “Diamond Tough” DT14 lens coating that is rated to allow 99% light transmission per lens. That is some of the best light transmission across the rifle scope market, and well above most competitors in the affordable scope market. This will play out big time in low-light shooting conditions.

The CMR 1-4×24 reticle offers a practical circular reticle designed to aid in target acquisition by drawing the shooter’s eye to the center of the scope. At the same time the Bullet Drop Compensating (BDC) reticle is uncluttered with fine, short bar aiming points calibrated for standard 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition. One of the most outstanding features of the reticle, and outside-of-the-box, is the “no math” range-finding for targets at distance. There is also a red or green illuminated option as well.

The Hi-Lux CMR 1-4×24 scope turrets are exposed providing easy minor adjustments to POI. In addition, Hi-Lux builds their turrets with Tri-Center spring system to provide outstandingly crisp and positive adjustment clicks. It’s a give and take that each shooter must consider. The rheostat control turret is angled on the top left side of the eye bell, and provides night vision settings in addition to the illuminated reticle.

The turrets provide audible and tactile adjustment feedback, and the “Zero Locking System” gives the shooter two very important features. First, the “Zero Locking System” has two Allen-screws in each turret head. The shooter can set the turrets to show “0” and then loosen the screws. This allows the outer turn dials to adjust the turrets, while keeping the markings on “0”. Once the rifle is properly zeroed on target, simply tighten the screws and the turrets are now ready to show windage or elevation adjustments like normal. The second feature is a zero stop on the elevation turret. When engaged this feature prevents the elevation turret from going down below zero. In low-light conditions, when returning to zero is necessary, the shooter can confidently dial down until the turret locks, and know they are on true zero.

The CMR 1-4×24 scope is not the newest 1-4x option from Hi-Lux. The Hi-Lux CMR4 1-4×24 scope takes that honor, but there are enough feature changes that begin to raise the CMR4 to more of a high-end optic rather than the affordable scope comparison desired here.

The Hi-Lux CMR 1-4×24 scope is one of the most feature-packed options in this review. From quality glass and coatings, to a BDC reticle that is not cluttered, to hardy construction with outstanding outer finishes, the CMR 1-4×24 offers a lot to the shooter.

Non-exposed turrets are a drawback for fast minor adjustments. This may or not be important to the shooter, and likely depends on the purpose the scope will be used. Another detraction is the rheostat control turret on the eye bell that could interfere with manipulation of the magnification ring. Hi-Lux boasts, “our goal is a simple one, to be recognized as China’s first premium optics manufacturer building high quality optics you can be proud of and rely on.” So the origin of the scope and parts leaves no doubt. Many optics makers are buying Chinese components, but Hi-Lux is advertising a total Chinese package.

Leupold VX-2 1-4×20*

The Leupold VX-2 1-4×20 scope offers a high quality optic.

And then there is Leupold. Arguably the most famous and reputable American high quality optics maker, the Leupold VX-2 1-4×20 is just one of Leupold’s “1-4x” scope options. However, both the Leupold VX-R and Leupold AR Mod 1 scopes are actually 1.5-4x scopes. Since they are not true 1x scopes we did not review them here. That’s unfortunate, because both of those models are outstanding in their own right.

The Leupold VX-2 is very unique in this category, as it incorporates a 1-inch tube as opposed to the dominate 30mm selection. I have used several 1-inch scopes in my lifetime, and some of them have performed very well. However, most 30mm scopes outperform the 1-inch scopes by simple physics – bigger tube = more light = better view and clarity. The VX-2 scope tubes are waterproofed with Leupold’s proprietary Argon/Krypton gas blend.

The selection of a 1-inch tube also drops the VX-2 objective lens to a puny 20mm, again quite different from most selections in this category. Leupold uses high quality glass, so some of that light quality will be recaptured, but that view will be noticeably smaller through the 20mm lens. In fact, Leupold states their Index Matched Lens System, which determines specific lens coatings based upon their refraction index, was nearly perfected in the VX-2 providing excellent brightness and sharp resolution.

Leupolds VX-2 1-4×20 scope has excellent glass.

The Leupold VX-2 has capped turrets, which is fairly common for these 1-4x scopes but not what we would prefer for on-duty use. Exposed turrets give the shooter fast access to minute adjustments, and are found on the VX-R and AR MOD 1 options. The magnification ring has an aggressively ridged texture, and a slightly raised lever for control, familiar to many Leupold scope offerings. The VX-2 comes standard with a non-illuminated duplex reticle, but a buyer can upgrade to several BDC reticles for additional cost.

The Leupold VX-2 is one of the lightest 1-4x scopes on the market. Having a weight of only 8.1 ounces this is a huge benefit for this scope. Any and everything added to a rifle can make the rifle harder and more cumbersome to wield or shoot. At only 9.5 inches long and having the lightest weight among these competitors, Leupold stands strong here.

Leupold gives the VX-2 1-4×20 scope a simple duplex reticle. I would have preferred to see a better duplex, or even BDC reticle. However, with the high quality glass and features already on the VX-2, Leupold had to surrender somewhere to remain competitive in this market. Even with the simple duplex reticle, this remains a very nice scope.

Leupold VX-2 1-4×20 Features

One-piece aluminum construction

Indexed matched lens system

2nd generation proprietary Argon/Krypton waterproofing

Fog-proof

Blackened lens edges

Externally threaded eye piece for reticle clarity

Includes durable lens covers

Full lifetime warranty.

Leupold VX-2 1-4×20 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Magnification: 1-4x (*1.4x)

Overall Length: 9.5 inches

Weight: 8.1 ounces

Tube Diameter: 1-inch

Ocular Lens Diameter: 20mm

Eye Piece Diameter: 1.6 inches

Turret Adjustment Value:

Turret Adjustment Range: 125 MOA

MSRP: $389.99.

BSD Remarks

The Leupold VX-2 1-4×20 scope is engineered for excellence. Where the features (turrets, tube diameter) dont’ quite fit our preferred selections, Leupold responds with superior craftsmanship and materials. Out of 169 comments on the Leupold website for the VX-2 1-4×20 scope, 156 customers gave 5 out of 5 stars (92.3%). That is a strong testament on the high-quality value of Leupold optics. The VX-2 1-4×20 is also very reasonably priced (especially from Amazon).

I have used a Leupold Mark IV scope for 9 years. It has excellent clarity and superbly constructed turret adjustments. It is mounted to my SWAT sniper rifle so has endured the rigors of packing, stalking, shooting, and more. I have been able to shoot the VX-2 on limited occasions and despite its smaller size does present a good sight picture. If it says Leupold on the box you can believe it will deliver. We have no problems endorsing and recommending Leupold optics for on-duty or self-defense applications.

*Thanks to reader Doug M. we have learned the Leupold VX-2 is actually a 1.4x magnification scope. The information we had from Leupold came from SHOT Show, Leupold Media Kits, and the Leupold website. However, apparently the Leupold Consumer Catalogue 2017, page 44 Ruger4life, under the column “Actual Magnification” shows the VX-2 as a 1.4x scope. We are leaving the VX-2 here for comparison, but with the noted asterisk. It is surprising and disturbing to us that a fine company like Leupold would hide the facts among their different publications, but now you know.

Millet DMS1 1-4×24

The Millet Designated Marksman Scope (DMS1) 1-4×24 is another option for shooter’s to consider. The DSM1 is specifically designed for close quarters to mid-range shooting. The one-piece aluminum 30mm tube is staying with the standard for these scopes and for good reason. As we’ve mentioned before, a 30mm tube is far superior to a 1-inch tube in light transmission and clarity of sight picture. However, the Millet DMS1 is one of the longest scope options having an overall length of 18.4 inches.

The DMS1 windage and elevation turrets are capped, so the shooter is limited in making fine-tuned point of impact (POI) adjustments in a more dynamic environment. I suppose the shooter could take the caps off prior to going into a shooting engagement, however this is not the most efficient method and is the reason we prefer exposed turrets.

The Millet DMS1 rheostat is located on the left side of the turret tower, avoiding the potential interference with the magnification ring. This is a preferred location in our opinion. In addition to avoiding any interference it makes all the controls intuitively in one general location. The DMS1 uses (1) CR2032 3v battery, and the windage cap has a storage compartment for a spare battery as well.

The Millet DMS1 1-4×24 scope is a really nice option. The DMS1 has several desirable features, including an illuminated donut-dot reticle. I like having the top crosshair removed to clear up the overall field of view. Though the larger donut could create some hindrance when aiming at distant targets, the donut and dot combination make an excellent reflex targeting point for close quarters targets.

With a price in the medium range of the scopes in this review, the Millet DSM1 makes some strong arguments to be considered among the best overall options. Millet has a very good name in the firearms market, including very good accessories, mounts and other items.

Nikon M-223 1-4×20

Nikon is no stranger to high quality glass, having an extremely strong presence in the camera and video market. For several years Nikon has been expanding their product line with high quality rifle scopes. The Nikon M-223 1-4x20mm scope is the entry-level optic for this comparison guide.

Made from a one-piece aluminum tube, the M-223 is built to be waterproof, fog-proof, and shock proof. However, like the Leupold VX-2, the Nikon M-223 uses a 1-inch tube diameter rather than the 30mm tubes most of the competition offers. Like the Leupold, Nikon has packed this scope with very nice features, and glass quality, but I would always prefer the greater light transmission a 30mm tube provides.

What Nikon excels at is glass quality and technology. Using their Ultra ClearCoat® optical system, the Nikon M-223 delivers a very sharp sight picture with 95% light transmission that will truly make a difference in lowlight conditions. In addition, Eye Box technology provides a constant 4.0 inch eye relief that remains open even with some side-to-side movement.

Exposed turrets provide very quick reference for those minor adjustments, and I am a big fan of this style of turret. Nikon uses spring-loaded turret controls so the shooter can be very confident about adjustments and locking in place. In addition, the Nikon M-223 features “Instant Zero Reload” turrets. Once the shooter dials in their zero simply pull the spring-loaded turret up or outward, rotate the turret to zero, and push the turret back into its locked position. This tool-less method fits the current trend and is extremely beneficial.

Nikon’s BDC-600 reticle has hold-over marks every 50 yards out to 600 yards.

Nikon gives the M-223 1-4×20 scope their BDC-600 reticle. The duplex crosshairs are not too large to interfere with overall sight picture, but they are a little larger than I would prefer. The crosshairs become fine around the center, and include (5) aiming dots for bullet drop compensation starting at 150 yards. With markings listed a shooter could fairly confidently engage targets out to 600 yards, understanding that temperature, crosswind, and barometric pressure will all have influence on the small .223 caliber bullet at that range.

In another very innovative feature, the Nikon M-223 has the option of Spot-On Custom Turrets. These amazing turrets are specifically designed to compensate for bullet drop using personalized ballistic information the shooter enters into their online ordering page. The shooter will be asked for rifle, ammunition, scope, and typical atmospheric conditions in the shooting area to create a uniquely calibrated turret. This could be phenomenal if the shooter has already settled on a particular ammunition, but would not be a good idea to experiment.

Nikon has been very impressive ever since they entered the rifle scope arena. They have taken all of their extensive knowledge of high-quality cameras and incorporated that excellence into their rifle scopes. In a very short time Nikon has elevated their status to among some of the best names in the market.

The Nikon M-223 1-4×20 scope has several high-quality features, not the least of which is the quality glass selection. The Point Blank Reticle on the M-223 is not the best option we’ve seen among the competitors, but it is much better than several. The combination duplex and dot design is very advantageous for a 1-4x scope. I have been able to shoot several different Nikon scopes and the optical clarity of each has been noteworthy. Nikon uses better materials than many, and it will show with this scope.

Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24

Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24 scope has some nice features.

Vortex has become one of America’s best rifle scope makers. Combining high quality materials with excellent engineering and craftsmanship, Vortex has been entering the conversation with some of the best optics makers around. The Vortex Crossfire II is one of their lower-end offerings, but it still comes packed with outstanding features.

Built with a one-piece 30mm aircraft-grade aluminum tube, the Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24 scope is waterproof, fog-proof, and shock-proof. Waterproofing is secured with O-ring construction, and Nitrogen gas purging prevents fogging over a wide temperature range. The exterior of the Crossfire II is hard-anodized coated for protection from the rust, the elements, and some scratching.

The Vortex V-Plex is the non-illuminated reticle option for the Crossfire II 1-4×24 scope.

Vortex uses a second focal plane (SFP) reticle on the Crossfire II 1-4×24 scope, meaning the reticle will remain a constant size over magnification adjustments. This is a popular choice among shooters and hunters, and considering the duplex style reticle options, should not hinder any performance while distance shooting. Vortex offers a choice of the non-illuminated V-plex reticle, or the illuminated V-Brite reticle.

The Vortex V-Brite illuminated reticle for the Crossfire II 1-4×24 scope is the better option for duty use.

Reticle selection is very important to overall performance. Each shooter has to determine what they intend to use their scope for the most, and what reticle, and magnification best suits accomplishing that mission. For on-duty and self-defense applications I find the Vortex V-Brite reticle a much better option. The V-Brite gives the shooter a very nice and thin duplex crosshair to help guide the eye onto distant targets, while providing a fine red dot center for reflex shooting.

The Vortex Crossfire II lenses are fully multi-coated to enhance sight picture through greater light transmission and reduced glare. Turrets are capped, which is not the preferred design for dynamic shooting situations, but do provide a zero-reset stop once zeroed and locked in.

Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24 Features

One-piece Aircraft-grade aluminum construction

Hard-anodized finish

Fully multi-coated lenses

Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticle

Waterproof O-ring construction

V-Plex or V-Brite reticle options

Fog-proof Nitrogen purged

Capped turrets

Vortex uses capped turrets on the Crossfire II 1-4×24 scope, but once uncapped they are hand adjustable.

Vortex Crossfire II 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum

Finish: Matte black hard-anodized

Magnification: 1-4x

Overall Length: 9.8 inches

Weight: 14.8 ounces

Optical Bezel: 1.73 inches

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

Eye Relief: 4.0 inches

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 96.1 feet (1x), 24.1 feet (4x)

Turret Adjustment Value: 0.5 MOA per click

Turret Adjustment Range: 100 MOA

Parallax Setting: Fixed 100 yards

MSRP: $249.00.

BSD Remarks

Vortex has been a rising star over the last few years. I have had the experience of shooting with a variety of their scopes and optics, and have found each to provide a very clear sight picture. Reticle options are better than many, and scope construction is top notch. However, some users have reported the illuminated red dot center can struggle somewhat in bright sunny daylight shooting conditions.

I currently own two Vortex red dot optics and have found them to be well built, accurate, and very competitively priced. In addition, the snipers on my SWAT team recently selected the Vortex Viper PST 1-4×24 scope to complete their secondary AR-15 rifles. In addition to an outstanding scope selection, Vortex offers one of the best law enforcement/military discounts on the market today. We would have no problem recommending and endorsing a Vortex scope for on-duty or self-defense use.

Best Mid-Range 1-4×24 Scopes

If you need a 1-4x scope that balances price to performance, one of these mid-range scopes might be of interest to you. All of them offer good optics and features at reasonable prices. Some of the features might be a small step down from the top tier scopes above, but they make up for it by not crushing your bank account.

Black Spider Optics 1-4×24

The Black Spider Optics BSO 1-4×24 scope is worth a second look.

Black Spider Optics (BSO) is very new to the market, but has already established a quick following and support from the likes of Spike’s Tactical. BSO started with their M0129 red dot reflex optic that the company claims to be specifically designed to meet the demand for “high quality and affordable price.”

The BSO 1-4×24 Scope is Black Spider Optic’s second optic, and it appears to deliver those quality features for a reasonable price. The BSO 1-4×24 comes with a one-piece 30mm tube made from quality 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum. The outer surfaces have a hard anodized finish in matte black.

BSO 1-4×24 lenses are fully multi-coated for light transmission and glare reduction, and include an “extra long” eye relief of 6.0 inches on 1x power. This is the longest eye relief among the scopes in this comparison, and could potentially provide very quick sight shooting, as the shooter does not have to get in a narrower space to avoid scope shadow. The BSO1-4X24 is described as giving shooter’s a wide, full field of view from with edge to edge clarity, though the actual dimensions of view were not listed. Some cheaper optics start to get fuzzy towards the outer edges of the glass, particularly at higher magnifications, so this is a sign of quality.

Another look at the surprising Black Spider Optics BSO 1-4×24 scope.

This scope features exposed turrets for very fast point of impact (POI) adjustments for close-in or medium distance targets. These are outstanding pull/push locking turrets so the shooter can be assured their settings stay in place. Turret adjustments are set for 0.5 MOA per click. The BSO 1-4×24 comes with a tactical fast adjustment lever for magnification adjustments. This lever is much shorter than the Bushnell AR Optics lever, which could be good or bad depending on shooter.

The BSO 1-4×24 scope has an illuminated reticle with (3) night vision settings. The rheostat illumination control turret is on the left side of the center turret tower. I am a big proponent of this location, which I feel is a much more intuitive location than optics that place the rheostat on the ocular bell. Black Spider Optics includes (1) CR2032 3V battery for the illuminated reticle. They also go the extra mile to provide flip cap lens covers, a scope coat, and a lifetime limited warranty on manufacturing.

Black Spider Optics 1-4×24 Features

6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum

30mm tube, hard anodized black matte finish

Full Field of View (FOV) Edge to Edge Clarity

Fully multi-coated optical lenses

Turret adjustments 0.5 MOA

Tactical fast adjustment lever

Extra long eye relief

Mil-Dot reticle w/ CQB

(8) Brightness settings, (3) Night vision settings

(1) CR2032 3v battery included

Flip-up lens caps and scope coat included

Shockproof & fogproof

Limited lifetime warranty (1 year for electronics).

Black Spider Optics 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Finish: Matte black

Overall Length: 11.5 inches

Weight: 17.6 ounces

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

Eye Relief: 6.0 inches (1x), 2.0 inches (4x)

Exit Pupil: 24mm (1x), 6mm (4x)

MSRP: $299.00.

BSD Remarks

We’ve heard just a few comments about the Black Spider Optics, but each has been optimistically positive. The mixture of MOA turrets and MRAD reticle can present some ranging or aiming problems at longer distances, but should be fine at the lower magnifications this scope will be shooting.

The Black Spider Optics BSO 1-4×24 should definitely be included in consideration for your 1-4×24 scope purchase. Though we have no personal experiences shooting with this scope, there are several YouTube videos showing very pleased owners. This YouTube video provides a very good look at the BSO 1-4×24 glass and illuminated reticle. Each shooter should review this product with their own due diligence, but we’re liking what we’re seeing and hearing.

Bresser Condor 1-4×24

Bresser Condor 1-4×24 scope with push-button rheostat illumination.

The Bresser Condor 1-4×24 scope brings a uniquely European appearance to the options, as should be expected from this German company. In fact, the Bresser company motto is “Bresser Brilliance, German Inspired.” The Bresser Condor comes with a single-piece 30mm aluminum tube, which we greatly prefer over 1-inch scope tubes. Each scope is inert gas purged to prevent fogging and sealed with O-rings. The Condor 1-4×24 is also designed to be shockproof and waterproof.

The fully multi-coated lenses, provide the shooter enhanced light transmission and glare reduction for a much clearer, brighter, and color reproduced sight picture. Any optic worth talking about will have multi-coated lenses. The Condor line was completely redesigned in 2015 to reduce weight while enhancing features.

Bresser Condor 1-4×24 scopes come with capped turrets. The turrets are designed with 0.25 MOA click adjustments for fine-tuning point of impact (POI). The caps have aggressive edge texture to assist in their removal or tightening, but we are much more favorable to scopes having exposed turrets allowing quick adjustments in the field.

Bresser uses the German A-Plex duplex dot reticle for the Condor 1-4×24 scope. The center red dot is illuminated with digital, push-button illumination controls on the eye bell. The dot is small, appearing to be only around 1 MOA, and is highlighted with a duplex crosshairs. The side and bottom reticle pillars are a medium width, extending to just shy of the scope’s center. From there, finer crosshairs take over to the center dot. The top crosshair is a fine line from top to center, helping keep the overall sight picture clean while still providing reference points for aiming. Overall, the Bresser Condor reticle is very nice.

The previous True View Koenig scope had a manual illumination control on top of the eye bell. This feature is very unique among affordable 1-4x scopes, and also has an auto shut-off feature to extend battery life. However, as a right-handed shooter, I would have preferred to have the controls on the left side so a positive shooting position (including trigger hand) could be maintained, while the off-hand handled illumination adjustments.

One area I’m not thrilled with is the magnification control ring. Placed at the front of the eye bell like most controls, the large digital rheostat appears that it could easily interfere with manual manipulation of the lever, especially in low-light conditions. Though the magnification ring does have aggressive ribbing, and a small ridge lever, an extended control lever would help make magnification changes around the large rheostat.

A better look at the digital push-button rheostat for the illuminated reticle on the Bresser Condor 1-4×24 scope.

Bresser Condor 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aluminum 30mm tube

Illuminated reticle w/ push-button controls

Digital Rheostat w/ auto shut-off feature

Fully multi-coated lenses

Bikini lens cap included

Turret adjustments 0.25 MOA

Capped turrets

Duplex crosshair w/ illuminated red dot center.

Bresser Condor 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Magnification: 1-4x

Overall Length: 9.375 inches

Height: 1.65 inches (eye bell)

Weight: 15.98 ounces*

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 100.5 feet (1x); 26.1 feet (4x)

Eye Relief: 3.94 inches

Exit Pupil: 15.2mm (1x); 5.2mm (4x)

Turret Adjustment Value: 0.25 MOA

MSRP: $149.99.

BSD Remarks

The Bresser Condor 1-4×24 scope is a very unique rifle scope in this category of affordable scopes. The digital rheostat is both a benefit, and a potential hindrance. A benefit for its easy use and auto shut-off feature, but could be a hindrance for its potential to interfere with the magnification ring.

The simple duplex crosshair with illuminated red dot center is particularly good for reflex shooting, and could even benefit longer distance shots as well. The clutter-free reticle is easy to see through and the red dot is very fast to pick-up in either daylight or low-light conditions.

Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24

Bushnell has been making rifle optics for more than 65 years, and is one of America’s most recognized brands. Bushnell places their 1-4×24 scope in their AR Optics line, specifically targeting the fastest growing area of the rifle market. The AR-15, or Modern Sporting Rifles (MSR), have become the hottest rifle on the market, and the demand for optics to meet the needs of this rifle has skyrocketed. Bushnell specifically targets this market with their AR Optics 1-4×24 scope.

The AR Optics 1-4×24 scope is made with a one-piece 30mm aluminum tube, providing superior light transmission over 1-inch tubes. Bushnell uses a second focal plane (SFP) for this scope, so the reticle will remain the same size regardless of magnification setting. For a lower end magnification scope this feature should be fine. First focal plane (FFP) scopes really benefit shooters at longer distance targets. The parallax setting is fixed on this optic.

The base model of the AR Optics 1-4×24 scope uses the Drop Zone-223 non-illuminated reticle. This reticle has fairly small cross-hairs providing a greater view of the target area. There are (6) aiming points for positive aiming out to 600 yards. I have looked through this scope numerous times and it has good glass, decent glare reduction, and I really like the BDC reticle. The reticle has rather fine duplex crosshairs, and the BDC dots are very easy to pick up for targeting at distance while remaining small enough not to obscure overall sight picture. However, an illuminated center dot would have been great to complete this scope.

The AR Optics 1-4×24 lenses are fully multi-coated for enhanced light transmission and glare reduction. This optic is labelled as waterproof, but does not have the more advanced RainGuard HD Bushnell offers on higher end optics.

Bushnell also offers an upgraded version of the AR Optics 1-4×24 scope called the Throw Down PCL. This version has a folding lever on the magnification lever, allowing the shooter to make extremely quick adjustments. When desiring to make adjustments the shooter simply folds the lever up to quickly change magnifications whether gloved or in bad conditions.

Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aluminum 30mm tube

Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticle

Fully multi-coated lenses

Hard-anodized matte black finish

Drop Zone-223 reticle

Fixed parallax

Exposed MRAD turrets

Waterproof.

Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 Specifications

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Magnification: 1-4x 24mm

Overall Length: 9.5 inches

Weight: 16.9 ounces

Reticle: Drop Zone-223

Lens Coating: Fully multi-coated

Parallax Adjustment: Fixed

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 112 feet (1x), 37 feet (4x)

Eye Relief: 3.5 inches

Exit Pupil: 13.1mm (1x), 5.2mm (4x)

Turret Adjustment Value @ 100 yards: .1 mil (.34 inches)

Turret Adjustment Range: 50 MRAD

MSRP: Not listed (Typically around $139.00).

Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 Throw Down PCL

First Focal Plane (FFL)

Overall Length: 9.4 inches

Weight: 17.3 ounces

Illuminated BTR Reticle

(11) Illumination Settings

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 110 feet (1x), 36 feet (4x)

Eye Relief: 3.6 inches

Exit Pupil: 13.0mm (1x), 6.0mm (4x)

Turret Adjustment Range: 60 MRAD

Maximized for new Savage MSR

MSRP: Not listed (Typically around $159.00).

BSD Remarks

The Bushnell AR Optics offer decent glass with nice reticle options. They have both a First and Second Focal Plane option, which is very nice, with illuminated and non-illuminated versions. The 30mm tube is a great selection for light transmission, and the multi-coated lenses provide quality light intake and glare reduction. The exposed turrets are great for quick point of impact (POI) adjustments for longer range targets, and the Throw Down PCL lever is extremely easy to use and a very beneficial option.

The author lives near a Bushnell Factory Outlet store and has examined these optics extensively. Glass quality is in the lower mid-range, as to be expected from an second tier scope. The shooter will have a decntly clear target image, but in low-light or high glare situations the shooter might begin to notice some clarity reductions. The author has used the Bushnell AR Optics 3-12×40 scope on a dedicated hunting AR-15 with great success against coyotes, and other small game. We are optimistic about the potential of the Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 scopes for on-duty use, though the illuminated reticle option would be the best choice in those situations. Here is a YouTube video from Mrgunsngear highlighting their positive experiences with the Bushnell AR Optics 1-4×24 scope.

Mueller Speed Shot 1-4×24

The Mueller Speed Shot 1-4×24 scope provides shooters a “new technology advanced illumination system.” According to Mueller, this advanced illumination system allows shooters to use the illumination during daylight hours without excessive tube glow. That could be particularly helpful if the shooter dials up the illumination. Though I wouldn’t call it “tube glow,” I have noted high illumination on the reticle can sometimes cause the reticle to have a hazy, non-crisp appearance.

One of the most unique features of the Mueller Speed Shot 1-4×24 scope is the reticle. Mueller uses a simple 4 MOA dot reticle, unlike many of the competitor models highlighted in this review that use some form of crosshair reticle. This can be both very good and very limiting. During reflex shooting (say 25 yards and closer) a single dot can be incredibly fast as the shooter’s eye quickly locates the dot and references it to potential targeting area. Busy crosshair reticles can cause the shooter to be slower in acquisition.

However, shots at further distance, that requires a little more time aligning the sight, will likely be hindered by the simple dot reticle on the Speed Shot. A 4 MOA dot, like the Speed Shot uses, is going to almost completely cover a human-sized head target at 100 yards (a shot well within expected uses for a scope like this). That can hinder target identification, and will have a significant impact on precision accuracy.

Shots with a 4 MOA dot may hit the general targeted area (head or torso), but a shot to the cheek is much less effective than one hitting the eye, nose, or forehead. Likewise, a shot that hits the shoulder or gut is not as effective at stopping a threat as a hit to the heart or lungs. As the distance increases a crosshair type of reticle really begins to shine. Where in the happy medium the two choices meet is up to the shooter.

The Mueller Speed Shot dot reticle (by door handles) is fine for CQB but may not be for distance shots.

Like other options, the Mueller Speed Shot 1-4×24 scope uses a 30mm tube for enhanced light transmission. The lenses are multi-coated to assist light coming in, while reducing glare. Mueller coats the Speed Shot in a Matte black finish.

The turrets are capped on the Speed Shot 1-4×24 scope, reducing quick adjustments on the fly. However, Mueller does provide larger turrets, that are finger adjustable, to assist in finger manipulation once they are uncapped. Turret adjustments are set for 0.5 MOA per click, providing an adequate accuracy level for a combination reflex/low magnification scope.

There are (11) illumination settings on the Mueller Speed Shot rheostat, providing the shooter an excellent range of brightness control.

The Mueller Speed Shot 1-4×24 scope presents an interesting alternative in the affordable 1-4x scope market. The single dot reticle is unique, with both benefits and detractors. The (11) illumination settings is outstanding for getting the reticle to the right light level for the particular shooting circumstance your facing.

This Mueller scope appears to be well made with desirable features, however we have not had any personal experiences with this scope. There are some positive remarks on some YouTube and firearms blogs so the Speed Shot should at least garner consideration. Here is a great YouTube video from Military Arms Channel highlighting the Mueller Speed Shot.

Primary Arms PA14x 1-4×24

The Primary Arms 1-4×24 rifle scope is another entry with a lot of potential.

The Primary Arms PA14x 1-4×24 scope is one of the better options in this category, and at a very reasonable price. Made from a one-piece 30mm aluminum tube, the PA14x is waterproof and fog-resistant. The exterior surfaces are coated in matte black. The non-exposed turrets, and rather large duplex pillars put the PA14x on the line, but its quality and price brings it into the good mid-range category.

The Primary Arms PA14x uses an illuminated duplex dot reticle. This provides the shooter with a decent crosshair for drawing in distance shots, with the advantageous red dot center for reflex shooting and pinpoint accuracy. I’m not a real fan of thick crosshair pillars, and the PA14x most definitely has large pillars on the sides and bottom. Thankfully the PA14x top crosshair is a finer line to help clear up the overall sight picture. The illumination rheostat control is located on the left side of the turret tower, which I think is more intuitive than on the eye bell.

Turrets are capped on the PA14x, which is not our preferred design. However, this can be completely acceptable to many shooters as this design tends to reduce turret size and price as well, since the caps provide the waterproofing instead of the turrets themselves. Turret caps are finger adjustable, and the turret adjustment settings are 0.5 MOA per click.

The ocular lens is adjustable to ensure the reticle remains in focus over the range of magnification options. Eye relief is generous on the PA14x, ranging from 4.9 inches on 1x power to 3.5 inches on 3.5x power. The Primary Arms PA14x 1-4×24 scope includes flip-up lens caps, and is covered by a 1-year warranty. Out of 153 customer responses on the Primary Arms website, 127 rated the PA14x five out of five stars.

Primary Arms PA14x 1-4×24 Features

One-piece 30mm aluminum tube

Second Focal Plane (SFP)

Illuminated duplex dot reticle

Not night vision compatible

0.5 MOA turret adjustments

Capped windage and elevation turrets

Flip-up lens caps included.

Primary Arms PA14x 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Magnification: 1-4x

Overall Length: 11.75 inches

Weight: 17.0 ounces

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

Focal Plane: Second

Eye Relief: 3.9 inches

Reticle: Duplex dot

Battery: (1) CR2032 3v

MSRP: $119.99.

BSD Remarks

Though we have not shot this scope in particular, the author has had the opportunity to shoot with other Primary Arms optics. So far the Primary Arms optics appear to be well built, durable, accurate, and provided with features that enhance their overall performance. The PA14x is a bit long and on the heavier side of the scopes compared here, but it is not unreasonably portioned in either regard.

The Primary Arms PA14x 1-4×24 scope appears to be a good scope with satisfactory features for the affordable scope range option we’re talking about. Though I’m not quite sure this would be a great on-duty option, there are plenty of valid uses for the PA14x.

Good 1-4x Scopes Under $200

Let’s be honest – not everyone can (or even wants) to buy an expensive scope. So, we took a look at some of the sub-$200 optics that are on the market to see which 1-4x scopes were the best for the money.

Barska 1-4×28 Illuminated Reticle

The Barska SWAT-AR 1-4×28 scopewas specifically designed for shooting close to mid-range targets with AR-style rifles. The SWAT-AR scope comes with a glass-etched Mil-Dot Reticle, which I have found to been a popular selection in my research on these scopes. The Mil-Dot reticle is illuminated (IR) with optional red or green crosshairs, with adjustable brightness settings to provide the shooter good targeting points under a variety of lighting conditions. Barska includes

The SWAT-AR scope lenses are fully multi-coated, to assist with light transmission and glare reduction. In addition, Barska includes a built-in “Sniper Edge” sunshade to further help reduce glare. Barska is one of the only options in this range to offer an extended sun shade.

One of the features of this Barska scope that really stands out is the 28mm Objective Lens. By far, most 1-4x magnified scopes have a 24mm objective lens. It might not seem that 4mm would make such a big difference, but they really do. Those 4mm allow a significantly larger amount of light into the shooter’s view, and that means greater clarity and positive target identification. The SWAT-AR 1-4×28 scope is a second focal plane (SFP) design, so the reticle will remain the same size over any of the magnification settings.

Barska uses exposed, hand adjustable windage and elevation turrets. The turrets and magnification dial are aggressively textured, making fine-tuned adjustments to point of impact (POI) very easy. These turrets can also be locked into place to prevent any unintentional movement. Barska includes a 30mm cantilever ring mount, making the SWAT-AR scope ready to mount on a Picatinny or Weaver style rail.

The Barska dual cantilever ring mount that is included is a great feature, that reduces overall price as well. The mount uses two mounting bolts that fit into the grooves on a Picatinny or Weaver style top rail. The two ring mounts have an excellent (6) lock-down bolts per ring, ensuring an excellent and secure mount.

Barksa SWAT-AR 1-4×28 Features

One-piece aluminum 30mm tube

Magnification 1-4x

Objective lens 28mm

Red or green illuminated Mil-Dot reticle

Exposed MOA windage and elevation turrets

Lockable windage and elevation turrets

Fully multi-coated optics

Angled sniper edge sun shade

(1) CR2032 3v Lithium battery included

Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof

Second Focal Plane (SFP)

Included: Dual cantilever ring mount, flip-up lens covers, lens cloth

Limited lifetime warranty.

Barska SWAT-AR 1-4×28 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Finish: Matte black

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 28mm

Overall Length: 10.0 inches

Weight: 16.0 ounces

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 90 feet (1x); 22.5 feet (4x)

Exit Pupil: 27.94mm (1x); 7.11mm (4x)

Eye Relief: 4.5 inches

Battery: (1) CR2032 3v

MSRP: $149.99.

BSD Remarks

Barska is often considered a lower-end scope maker, but the SWAT-AR 1-4×28 scope does have some good features for its intended use. The larger 28mm objective lens is very nice, as is the inclusion of a dual cantilever mount. The illuminated reticle, with green or red options, is more often an advanced feature on higher-end scopes. It is a very beneficial feature in low-light shooting conditions.

We have seen but not personally used the SWAT-AR scope so we cannot definitively endorse this optic. The features are decent, and above baseline for many other manufacturers on several points. With an affordable price for a 1-4x scope, the Barska SWAT-AR scope may satisfy your needs. This video on YouTube shows a very impressed and satisfied owner.

BSA Tactical Weapon 1-4×24

Birmingham Small Arms Company (BSA) started their optics division in 1996, and was one of the first manufacturers to produce a rifle scope specifically for the .17 HMR. The BSA Tactical Weapon (TW) 1-4×24 rifle scope is capable of benefiting shooters with a variety of rifles.

The TW 1-4×24 scope is made from a one-piece 30mm aluminum tube, with a magnification ring at the front of the ocular bezel and focusing ring at the rear of the ocular bezel. Lenses are fully multi-coated to enhance light transmission and reduce glare. In fact, BSA states the TW scopes produce 95% daytime light transmission, and 90% nighttime light transmission. There is no doubt, using a 30mm tube rather than a 1-inch tube benefits this optic’s performance.

The TW 1-4×24 scope comes with a Mil-Dot reticle for easy target acquisition and hold-overs if necessary. The reticle uses rather thin crosshairs, providing much better overall observation than reticles with thick lines or striations. The dots have true Mil-Dot (MRAD) spacing.

BSA reports adjustment ranges of 35 for both elevation and windage. Though it does not specifically state the adjustment measurement form, each click value is 0.25. Therefore I believe this is an MOA adjustment, rather than Mil-Dot (MRAD) adjustments that are typically 0.36 per turret click. The turrets are capped, and not exposed. For some shooters this is not an issue, but I am a strong advocate for exposed turrets to make easier POI adjustments for distance shots.

The BSA TW 1-4×24 scope housing is shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof, so the optic should provide good shooting opportunities under a variety of conditions. BSA includes (2) 30mm mounting rings with every TW 1-4×24 scope. These solid mounting rings are designed to attach to Picatinny or Weaver-style rails, and use (4) lock-down screws on the rings rather than just (2). BSA offers a limited lifetime warranty on their scopes.

BSA TW 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aluminum tube

Fully multi-coated optics

Mil-Dot reticle

Includes: (2) 30 mm rings and mounts

Includes: Haze filters

Waterproof, shockproof, and fog-proof

Limited lifetime warranty.

BSA TW 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Magnification Range: 1-4x

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

Overall Length: 9.6 inches

Weight: 15.2 ounces

Exit Pupil Range: 13.0mm (1x); 2.75mm (4x)

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 96.0 feet (1x); 18.0 feet (4x)

Optimum Eye Relief: 4.0 inches

Parallax Setting: 100 yards fixed

Turret Adjustment Range: 35 MOA (see narrative above)

Turret Click Value: 0.25

MSRP: $117.95.

BSD Remarks

The BSA TW 1-4×24 scope is a fairly basic scope. The TW does has several nice features above other low-end optics and comes with a very affordable price. We do not have particular experience with this optic; however, the author used a BSA red dot optic on an AR-15 for several years. That red dot optic was reasonably accurate, clear, and inexpensive.

Though the Tactical Weapon 1-4×24 scope appears to be a more than decent selection for target shooting and hunting, I am not sure if I’d be comfortable recommending this item for on-duty use or self-defense without a lot more extensive use to determine its durability. However, here is a YouTube video with an owner who seems pleased with his purchase, and gives a good look at the duplex crosshair and glass quality.

Firefield Close Combat 1-4×24

The Firefield® Close Combat 1-4×24 scope comes in a one-piece hard anodized aluminum 30mm tube. The scope is IPX6 water resistant, meaning it will sustain heavy water spray but not submersion. The scope glass if fully multi-coated for light transmission and glare reduction, including Firefield’s AR-blue coating as well. The Close Combat tube is Nitrogen-filled to ensure it is fogproof.

The Firefield® Close Combat 1-4×24Riflescope offers a red or green illuminated Mil-Dot reticle, standard black when non-illuminated. Turret adjustments are 0.5-inch MOA per click (though one spot on the Firefield website said 0.25″). The Close Combat is a second focal plane (SFP) system, meaning the reticle will remain the same size regardless of magnification. This also means the Mil-Dots will not keep their absolute values during adjustments, but instead will only be true for the setting zeroed.

The Mil-Dot reticle has medium sized crosshair pillars that come in about halfway from the edge of the glass. The Mil-Dot crosshairs then complete the reticle offering elevation and windage hold-over aiming points, with optional illumination in green or red.

The Close Combat offers shooters easy-grip, open windage and elevation turrets making on the go adjustments much easier. The IPX6 water resistant construction ensures the scope is protected from the elements. The Close Combat 1-4×24 is one of the shortest options on the market having an overall length of only 8.86 inches. This can be very beneficial if the shooter is using the optic in dynamic, close quarters shooting situations.

The magnification adjustment lever has a small tactile ridge to assist in making adjustments. There is plenty of elevation and windage adjustment capability, with each adjustment having a full 120 MOA range. Firefield includes (1) CR2032 battery, a cleaning cloth, and mounting rings for the scope. This makes the Firefield Close Combat 1-4×24 scopes one of the most economical while still feature oriented scopes in the comparison.

Firefield Close Comabt 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aluminum 30mm tube

Hard-anodized matte black finish

Variable 1-4x magnification

Second Focal Plane (SFP) Mil-Dot reticle

Nitrogen-filled tube

Red/green reticle illumination

(5) brightness settings

Fully multi-coated lenses, AR-blue coating

Weatherproof, fogproof, shockproof

Operating temperature of 0 to 120F

Exposed MOA turrets

Fast focus eyepiece

IPX6 weatherproof rating

Includes: Cleaning cloth, mounting rings, (1) CR2032 battery.

Firefield Close Combat 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Magnification: 1-4x

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

Eyepiece Diameter: 36mm

Overall Length: 8.86 inches

Height: 2.68 inches

Width: 2.2 inches

Weight: 14.2 ounces

Exit Pupil Diameter: 12.3mm (1x); 6.2mm (4x)

Eye Relief: 4.13 inches to 4.92 inches

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 88.3 feet (1x); 23.8 feet (4x)

Diopter Adjustment: +3~-3

Parallax Setting: Fixed @ 100 yards

Elevation Adjustment: 120 MOA

Windage Adjustment: 120 MOA

Turret Adjustments: 0.5 MOA per click

Battery Type: (1) CR2032 3V

Battery Life (Hours): 80 – 150

MSRP: $119.99.

BSD Remarks

The mixture of Mil-Dot reticle and MOA is not ideal, but is not a tremendous detractor on lower magnification scopes. There may be some point of impact (POI) issues at further distances if the shooter tries to use Mil-Dot hold-overs, but since these scopes are mostly targeted for targets 200 yards and in, this shouldn’t be much of a problem.

We have not personally shot with the Firefield Close Combat scope so we can not make a definitive endorsement. The scope appears to be a viable affordable scope option, with some features that exceed basic scope offerings. Here is a YouTube video of a guy zeroing in his Close Combat scope with decent success (note: flyers are likely shooter induced).

Konus Pro M30 1-4×24

The Konus Pro M30 1-4×24 rifle scope from New Zealand.

Konus is a nice entry from our friends down under in New Zealand. The Konus Pro M30 1-4×24 scope packed many of the features we’ve come to expect from these 1-4x scopes. The one-piece aluminum tube is dry Nitrogen filled to provide fog-proof protection. The scope is also waterproof and shockproof making it sturdy enough for packing, rapid fire and various weather conditions.

Coming with fully multi-coated lenses, and an engraved 30/30 reticle, the Pro M30 provides a nice and simple sight picture. The reticle is a duplex design with a center red dot that can illuminate. This is a good combination of crosshairs and red dot reticles, and the crosshair posts are not too thick preventing the sight picture from becoming too crowded.

I prefer finer crosshairs that are easy to reference, and don’t interfere with a good overall sight pictures. The Konus Pro M30 reticle crosshairs are right around my limit for width to still provide a good picture. The center red dot appears to be in an octagon shape, and though not listed on the Konus website, it appears to be about 3 MOA in size.

The Konus Pro M30 1-4×24 scope uses a Second Focal Plane (SFP) reticle, so the reticle remains a constant size over the magnification range. Without having Mil-Dot hold-over markings, having a SFP reticle is perfectly fine for the Pro M30. Many shooters prefer SFP reticles to avoid cluttering the sight picture when the First Focal Plane reticles become enlarged with magnification.

The Konus Pro M30 1-4×24 scope is built with an illuminated red dot center, with (5) illumination settings in either blue or red. Elevation and windage turrets are capped, which is not our preference, and use a 0.5 MOA adjustment for zeroing. The magnification ring is marked every 0.5 magnification change, which is nice. Included flip-up lens covers, cleaning cloth, and (1) CR2032 3v battery round out the Konus features.

Konus Pro M30 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aluminum tube

Dry Nitrogen filled

Fully multi-coated lenses

Dual engraved duplex reticle with illuminated center dot

Second Focal Plane (SFP)

Waterproof, Fog-proof, Shockproof

Locking fast focus ocular

Finger adjustable windage and elevation turrets

Side adjustable rheostat

(5) Illumination settings (blue and red)

Includes: Flip-up lens covers, cleaning cloth

(1) CR2032 3v battery (included).

Konus Pro M30 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Magnification: 1-4x

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Overall Length: 11.6 inches

Weight: 17.6 ounces

Turret Adjustment Values: 0.5 MOA per click

Turret Adjustment Range: 112 MOA

Exit Pupil: 12.0mm (1x), 6.0mm (4x)

Eye Relief: 3.9 inches

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 100 feet (1x), 25 feet (4x)

Parallax Setting: 100 yards fixed

MSRP: $131.51 (U.S.).

BSD Remarks

We’ve only recently heard about Konus and their Pro M30 1-4×24 scope, so our familiarity is very limited here. The overall features are very comparable with many of the competitors here. The simple duplex reticle with illuminated center dot provides a fairly clear sight picture, and an easy reflex aiming point uncluttered from rings or Mil-Dot markings.

The eye relief is more generous than some, and the exit pupil is a little larger than most. This will help the shooter take in more light through their pupil during low-light shooting scenarios, while daytime light may not be as efficiently used. The Konus Pro M30 MSRP is reasonable for the features provided. Here is a YouTube video from 762x51n8o. He seems pleased with the overall features provided by Konus, but his groupings may be more “hunting” groups rather then precision groupings necessary for on-duty use.

TRUGLO Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4×24

The TRUGLO Tru-Brite SPC TAC 1-4×24 scope is a part of TRUGLO’s Tru-Brite™ 30 Series. The SCP TAC 1-4×24 is built with a one-piece 30mm aluminum tube for better lighting and clarity, as well as a large field of view. The SCP TAC 1-4x scope is shock-proof and capable of rapid follow-up shots. Designed to be waterproof, the Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4x scope has a Nitrogen gas-filled tube to ensure fog proof operation as well.

TRUGLO provides fully multi-coated lenses on their Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4x scope. Modern day lens coatings have been scientifically produced to enhance light transmission and quality, while reducing glare and interference. The true 1x magnification ensures shooters have a true reflex optic in addition to the low magnified scope. Reflex optics allow shooters the highly advantageous two eyes open shooting style for close quarters or sudden targets.

The Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4x scope has two pre-calibrated bullet drop compensation (BDC) turrets designed specifically for 55-grain .223 caliber, or 168-grain .308 caliber bullets. In addition, the BDC turrets allow shooters to potentially engage targets out to 800 yards with accuracy. I say “potentially” because the .223 round will be far less accurate at that range than the venerable and heavier .308 round.

This brings us to the Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4×24 Mil-Dot reticle. The reticle is in the first focal plane (FFP) so the reticle enlarges with magnification. However, this if very good with the Mil-Dot reticle provided, because the Mil-Dots will maintain their hold-over values regardless of what magnification setting the shooter is on. Second focal plane (SFP) reticles remain constant in size over the magnification range, but are only able to provide accurate hold-overs at the specified magnification setting the scope was zeroed.

TRUGLO goes the extra mile by providing reversible, offset, monolithic 30mm scope rings that were CNC-machined from aircraft-grade aluminum. This may not seem like much, but adding these to the purchase saves a lot of time and money. The Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4×24 scope mixes MOA turret adjustments with a Mil-Dot reticle. Typically it is not ideal to mix the two measuring methods, though it is commonly done. However, for the shorter ranges intended for a scope like this, the mixing should not produce adverse POI issues.

TRUGLO Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aircraft-grade aluminum construction

30mm scope tube

Fully multi-coated lenses

Pre-calibrated BDC turrets (.223/.308)

Durable leaf-spring turret click adjustments

Mil-Dot reticle

Fog-proof Nitrogen filled tube

TRUGLO Tru-Brite SCP TAC 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum, matte black finish

Magnification: 1-4x

Overall Length: Not listed

Weight: 28.8 ounces

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards:

Eye Relief: Not listed

Exit Pupil: Not listed

Turret Adjustment Value: 0.5 MOA

Turret Adjustment Range: Not listed

MSRP: $184.00.

BSD Remarks

Over the last several years I have been watching TRUGLO very closely. I was first introduced to their products about 8 years ago as I upgraded my bow optics. TRUGLO has a wide range of products for archery, crossbows, and firearms. I have been very pleased with my bow 5-pin sight, and its ability to provide a lighted aiming point in low-light conditions.

As I continued to watch the products develop, I realized how good the TRUGLO firearms optics were as well. Glass clarity is good, features are competitive, and the prices are very affordable. If you’ve never considered a TRUGLO product, you owe it to yourself to at least check.

Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24

The Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24 rifle scope.

The Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24 scope is designed with a one-piece 30mm aluminum tube. Using a 30mm tube is a great feature over 1-inch tubes that provide less light. The tube is Nitrogen purged to prevent fogging, a fairly common feature among current optics.

The Kaspa turrets are exposed for quick adjustments on the fly. This is an important feature for on-duty use, but may not be as important for self-defense, hunting, or target shooting. Turret adjustments are valued at 0.5 MOA at 100 yards, which is fairly common among this category of rifle scopes. The field of view (FOV) on the Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24 scope is high, with 109.0 feet at 100 yards on 1x power.

Lenses on the Kaspa 1-4×24 scope are fully multi-coated to enhance light transmission while reducing unwanted glare. Weaver provides optional reticles to accommodate the desired use of the Kaspa 1-4×24 scope. There are Dual-X or Ballistic-X reticles for on-duty or self-defense applications, and a Vertical Turkey Zone reticle for hunters. The Ballistic-X reticle would be my preferred choice for its thinner duplex crosshairs and bullet drop compensation (BDC) has marks as well. The reticle is illuminated, with the rheostat control knob on the left side of the turret tower, but Weaver does not list how many illumination settings.

Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24 Features

One-piece aluminum tube construction

Matte black finish

Illuminated reticle

Fog-proof Nitrogen-purged

Exposed turrets

Turret adjustments of 0.25 MOA.

Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24 Specifications

Material: Aluminum

Finish: Matte black

Overall Length: 10.5 inches

Weight: 16.8 ounces

Eye Relief: 4.0 inches (1x), 3.54 inches (4x)

Exit Pupil: 13.0mm (1x), 6.0mm (4x)

Field of View (FOV) @ 100 yards: 109.o feet (1x), 27 feet (4x)

Turret Adjustment Value: 0.5 MOA

Turret Adjustment Range: 120 MOA

MSRP: $273.95 Hunting, $360.35 Tactical.

BSD Remarks

Weaver has a long history in the rifle market. The company is still considered one of the better accessory and mounting components makers available. The Weaver scopes are not as well known as some of their competitors, but they could meet shooter’s needs.

The Weaver Kaspa 1-4×24 scope (Amazon link picture incorrect) has features that provide decent shooting opportunities for hunters and target shooters. In fact, there are a lot more YouTube videos for the turkey hunting Kaspa version, than the standard version. For several reasons, I would not feel comfortable recommending this scope for on-duty use. Here is a YouTube video showing the Kaspa 1-4×24 scope features.

Final Thoughts

We hope you find this Affordable 1-4×24 Scope Guide helpful and informative. This was not an exhaustive list of available and affordable 1-4×24 scopes, however it does provide a decent overview of the best we have found available. As you can see, there is a fairly wide range of quality and features available within a reasonably small price window.

Obviously the more expensive the scopes became, we typically found higher-end glass and greater features. However, some of the most inexpensive scopes had good features, and could provide very good options for certain applications. This is where we recommend the shooter to critically evaluate the intended purpose for the scope. If the scope is simply to have fun and shoot some targets, or perhaps hunt medium to large game animals, then you may be fine with selecting one of the cheaper scopes that still have good features (particularly the Primary Arms PA14x, TRUGLO Tru-Brite SCP TAC, or Bushnell AR Optics).

If your intended use is for on-duty military, law enforcement, or self-defense, than you owe it to yourself to consider the better glass and manufacturing details so you have assurance of pin-point accuracy when it is life or death. The Burris MTAC, Leupold VX-2, Vortex Crossfire II, Millet DMS1 or Hi-Lux CMR would be much better options under those circumstances.

Remember, if you plan on purchasing one of these optics we would really appreciate it if you used our Amazon link to do so. You purchase will help pay to keep this website going.

Disclosure Statement

EDITOR’S NOTE: BlueSheepdog does not have any ties with the manufacturers of the scopes contained within this Guide. None of the manufacturers advertise on this site, nor are we in negotiations with any for future compensation. In fact, we are committed to avoiding those types of advertisements or sponsorships to ensure we can provide our readers fair and objective reviews on products that are important to us all.

BlueSheepdog does, however, participate in the Amazon-related links partnership. This program allows us to include links to Amazon for the products we review. For this service, Amazon pays us a small percentage of the total from any sales referred from our site. This program DOES NOT raise the price you pay to Amazon for a selected product. Instead, Amazon is paying us a part of their profit as a type of commission for bringing them the sale.

The sales from these links are what keep this website up and running. If you are in the market for one of these products, we hope our review guide has helped you narrow your selection. We would also greatly appreciate you making your purchase from one of our Amazon links!

Aaron is a sergeant with a midwestern police department, where he serves as a trainer, supervisor and SWAT sniper. In addition to his broad tactical knowledge, Aaron has experience in DUI, DRE and undercover narcotics investigations.

Comments

Aaron, great reviews! I am considering trading my 338 Win mag for a 375 Ruger, Mossberg Patriot. This will be a close range to 300 yard gun. I am leaning toward the Burris MTac. Any other recommendations from your list? Thanks Bob Fusani, NYSP Retired.

Bob, thanks for reading and for your service. I think you’ll really enjoy the Mossberg Patriot rifle. I have found Mossberg rifles very well made, and top quality for their price range. Your focus on the Burris MTAC is well founded. Burris has a very good reputation for quality, and the MTAC features embody that along with offering really nice reticle options.

As for your question, the perfect scope will really come down to your expected targets and their realistic ranges. I know you mentioned a 300-yard and in shorter range rifle, but you’ll likely want to get even more refined. If you know you’re going to be in the thick bush and realistically at ranges closer to 100-yards and in, than a fast targeting red dot (or dot ring combo like the MTAC) could be extremely advantageous. If the targets might be a little bit further, more like 200 yards, than a dot and ring may not give you the accurate targeting necessary. In those situations a simple duplex crosshair, or crosshair/dot combo may be best. Again, all this becomes dependent upon what is being shot at (size/speed), and their most probable distances.

For the Mossberg Patriot in 375 Ruger, I would also consider the Vortex Crossfire II. Vortex has an excellent reputation and impeccable warranty (if broke they fix or replace). The simple duplex with a fine dot center aiming point found with the V-Brite reticle could be an excellent selection. You get an excellent scope, and the best of both worlds on reticle – crosshair and dot.